Protein Balls | No Bake Gluten Free Vitality Bites

Prep Time : 15 minutes minutes

Cook dinner Time : 0 minutes minutes

Hold your loved ones energized all through the day with these tasty and wholesome protein balls snacks which are naturally gluten free.

Leap to Recipe

These no-bake protein balls are scrumptious, satisfying, and straightforward to make. Made at dwelling, these protein balls prices about 20¢ every to make; purchase them in a retailer, they may value you about $1.79 every (no joke).

If your loved ones is all the time hungry, like mine appears to be, these bites are the proper snack to have round. They’re even nice for breakfast on the go.

What makes these protein balls particular

I had been making these peanut butter protein balls for months and months (and taking them all over the place with me) earlier than I even considered sharing the recipe with anybody. They’re so useless easy that when individuals requested for the recipe, I simply recited it from reminiscence as finest I may.

I largely make them utilizing hemp seeds, that are so protein-packed it is ridiculous. Once I began making them, nobody may moderately be anticipated to search out hemp seeds, so I figured the recipe wasn’t price sharing.

However then, as typically occurs, I spied with my little eye a package deal of hulled hemp seeds at my native Dealer Joe’s. And similar to that, it was time to share!

I am not exaggerating once I let you know that I make these protein balls each month of the 12 months. The massive glass jar you see within the picture above (and within the video) is one I preserve stocked with protein snacks (okay, or typically cookies) as typically as potential. And my entire household actually misses them when the final one within the jar is eaten!

There aren’t many elements in them, and despite the fact that they comprise sugar (honey is sugar, in any case), the oats, coconut, and seeds are pure well being meals. Only one chew incorporates 6 grams of protein, and satisfying sufficient to get me by means of the afternoon stoop.

Even when my youngsters have been nonetheless hitting development spurts that emptied the cabinets repeatedly, three protein balls have been often sufficient to tide them over. They usually beat a handful of Oreos any day!

As a substitute for the bite-sized vitality snack state of affairs, I even have the proper recipe for do-it-yourself protein bars. They’re made with oats and protein powder, and there are many totally different taste variations. One way or the other, they’ve the feel of a brownie.

Protein balls elements checklist

• Quaint rolled oats – If you cannot have oats, strive choosing a substitute for oats.
• Coconut flakes – a scrumptious, nutritious binder filled with wholesome fat
• Hemp seeds – I like these, however you may also strive chia, hulled sunflower, pumpkin, or flax seeds
• Oat flour – I simply grind oats myself to make this flour
• Salt – a should for balancing all of the totally different flavors
• Peanut butter – clean, no-mix peanut butter works finest; pure peanut butter is often too runny
• Honey – or maple syrup – helps to bind the recipe elements whereas including a contact of sweetness
• Vanilla extract – only a bit provides such large taste
• Mini chocolate chips – add extra sweetness with out taking these overboard

These protein balls are (primarily) no-bake

This actually is a no-bake recipe whenever you make it as written. However I can’t inform a lie: I virtually all the time toast the oats, coconut, and seeds in a 300°F oven for about quarter-hour at the beginning.

You could not need to placed on the oven for one thing that ought to be no-bake. However I’ve my oven on each single day of the 12 months (occupational hazard) anyway, summer season included.

Toasting the oats, coconut, and seeds actually does intensify and deepen the flavors. But when the oven merely is not an possibility, you possibly can additionally strive toasting them on the stovetop in a cast-iron skillet simply till they scent aromatic.

These no bake peanut butter vitality bites are scrumptious, satisfying, and really easy to make. They usually’re naturally gluten free, too!

Methods to make these peanut butter protein balls

Whether or not you select to toast the cumbersome elements (oats, coconut, seeds) or not, all this recipe requires is that you just place these elements, together with some salt and oat flour (simply oats floor in a meals processor or blender—I by no means purchase oat flour!) in a big bowl. Then, add the peanut butter and honey and blend.

The combination will probably be fairly thick. Simply preserve mixing and urgent down the combination with the again of a spoon to moisten the cumbersome elements with the peanut butter and honey. You need all the things to be thick and never comfortable in order that the vitality bites maintain collectively effectively and preserve their form after you portion and roll them tightly.

Then, permit all the things to chill right down to room temperature (particularly when you’ve toasted the oats, and many others. first) earlier than including the few miniature chocolate chips. In any other case, the chips will soften proper into the bites when combined and will not maintain their form.

I like utilizing miniature chocolate chips since only a few ounces of them go an extended, great distance. Each single chew could have loads of chips, however not too many who we took one thing wholesome and made it into sweet.

Lastly, portion the combination with an ice cream scoop or your fingers and roll every portion tightly into balls between your palms. Place them within the fridge to relax, then pile them right into a container with a lid. They’re prepared everytime you or your always-hungry household is!

Have the youngsters assist make these gf bites

Significantly, your youngsters will love this vitality ball recipe as a lot as you do. They will find it irresistible much more when you allow them to show you how to make these tasty treats.

These gluten free bites make excellent faculty snacks, and your youngsters will probably be delighted once they discover them in lunch bins — they will inform their pals all about how they helped!

Listed here are some suggestions for making this recipe with youngsters:

• Be careful for decent elements – I like to toast my oats, shredded coconut, and seeds once I make these gf energy balls, however you may skip this step to make this a very no-bake oatmeal vitality balls recipe. Do you have to determine to undergo with the toasting, simply be sure your elements have fully cooled earlier than letting the little ones deal with them.
• Wash fingers earlier than mixing and rolling – I do not see the necessity to use a meals processor to make these gluten free peanut butter balls — mixing by hand is moderately fast and straightforward. As kiddos might by chance lose their grip on the blending spoon (or purposely accomplish that to get a style of that yummy batter), be sure that they wash their fingers totally earlier than beginning.
• Don’t be concerned about making a large number – It is a reality of life that when you have got youngsters within the kitchen, there’s going to be the potential for a large number. As you may simply comprise this mess to a desk or counter, do not let this hassle you. This batter is completely secure for licking off fingers, and the elements will clear up simply with a humid sponge. After all, when you actually do not have the time for a large number, you may also plop the combined elements right into a pan, firmly flatten, after which refrigerate. After an hour, pull out the pan and use a knife to chop up some do-it-yourself vitality bars.

Extra suggestions for making protein balls

Use a spring-loaded cookie scoop for excellent parts

Eyeing up the protein bites dough and pinching off items is a superbly authentic option to divvy up the batter. However if you would like extra constant sizing throughout your vitality balls, use an ice cream or cookie scoop.

Refrigerate the dough earlier than rolling

I discover that it is a lot simpler to roll an vitality ball when the dough is chilly. In the event you discover that your combine is just too comfortable to deal with, simply stick the blending bowl or portioned batter into the fridge for about half-hour. When it comes out, it is going to be agency sufficient for simple dealing with.

Methods to retailer your protein balls

Once I make these peanut butter protein balls, I often double or triple the recipe to have a giant batch available. They will final roughly per week when you retailer them in an hermetic container in your kitchen counter.

If your loved ones would not inhale these yummy protein bites the way in which mine does, you may prolong their life by storing them within the fridge as a substitute. You’ll be able to preserve them in an hermetic container for about two weeks earlier than they begin to dry out.

In the event you’re a gradual eater, engaged on portion management, or simply need easy accessibility to those peanut butter balls always, stick them within the freezer.

After I end making ready them, I place the pan of vitality bites immediately into the freezer for about an hour in order that they get very agency. I then switch the balls to a freezer-safe zip-top bag. They will final about three months within the freezer.

Peanut butter protein balls substitution & variation recommendations

Peanut butter-free, gluten free bites

If you cannot have peanut butter, virtually some other nut butter will do. Almond butter is the proper substitute, and cashew butter will make a extra neutral-flavored vitality chew.

The drippy, pure variety is absolutely too comfortable and will not maintain the bites collectively very effectively. Go for the “no-stir” variety, through which the oil would not separate at room temperature.

Vegan protein balls

If you wish to make these vegan or simply do not like honey, you need to use a mixture of half maple syrup, half unsulphured molasses (like Grandma’s model). Maple syrup alone is just too skinny and never sticky sufficient to interchange honey.

Grain free protein balls

In the event you do not need to eat oats or you may’t have them, strive changing the old style rolled oats with overwhelmed rice and the oat flour with quinoa flakes. We talk about this additional in our put up about easy methods to substitute for oats in baking.

As a substitute of changing the oats on this recipe for protein balls, you may make a grain-free model. They’re filled with protein, too, simply with out the grains.

Instead of oats and oat flour, use twice as many coconut flakes, and a mixture of various uncooked nuts. I like to recommend utilizing a minimum of 1/2 cup cashews in that blend, since they are a comfortable, delicate nut that helps bind collectively the opposite elements in the same option to how the oat flour does within the oat-containing recipe beneath.

To make grain free protein balls, you may want a meals processor or the elements will probably be too massive to carry collectively as balls:

• 2 cups (240 g) assorted uncooked nuts (I like to recommend 1 cup (120 g) uncooked cashews + 1/2 cup (60 g) uncooked pecans + 1/2 cup (60 g) uncooked almonds; use a minimum of 1/2 cup cashews)
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 4 cups (160 g) unsweetened coconut flakes
• 1 1/2 cups (384 g) clean, no-stir peanut butter (can substitute almond butter one other favourite no-stir nut butter)
• 1/2 cup (168 g) honey (Lyle’s Golden Syrup is an effective substitute)
• 1 cup (160 g) hulled uncooked seeds (I like to recommend a mixture of hemp, chia, and/or flax seeds)
• 4 ounces miniature chocolate chips

Within the bowl of a meals processor fitted with the metal blade, place the uncooked nuts, salt, and about 2 cups (half) of the coconut flakes. Pulse the combination till the combination resembles coarse crumbs (3 or 4 instances).

In a big, microwave-safe bowl, place the peanut butter and honey. Microwave the peanut butter and honey combination on 60% energy for 30 seconds to loosen the combination and make it simpler to mix with the dry elements, after which combine to mix.

To the peanut butter and honey combination, add the nut and coconut combination, the seeds and the remaining coconut, and blend till well-combined.

Enable the combination to chill for a minimum of 10 minutes, after which add the miniature chocolate chips. Combine till the chips are evenly distributed all through. In the event you add the chips when the combination is sizzling, the chips will all soften.

Scoop the combination by the heaping tablespoon onto the ready baking sheet (a #50 ice cream scoop works completely). It’s best to have about 40 parts. Roll every portion tightly right into a ball between your palms.

Place the baking sheet within the fridge to relax till agency. Serve chilled. They’ll maintain their form at room temperature, however I desire them chilled.

Seed choices

I purchase shelled hemp seeds at my native Dealer Joe’s market. In the event you do not dwell close to a Dealer Joe’s or simply do not store there and you’ll’t discover hemp seeds, strive chia seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, flax seeds, or pumpkin seeds.

Pumpkin seeds are a lot bigger, in order that they’d have to be chopped earlier than including them to the combination. Flax seeds do are likely to have a really robust taste, so be sure your loved ones is on board earlier than utilizing them on this recipe. There are many different potentialities.

Extra mix-ins and scrumptious variations

• cocoa powder – sprinkle in some cocoa powder to make chocolate peanut butter balls
• cranberries – chop up dried cranberries for a tangy twist; dried cherries may even add a pleasant tartness
• dates – chopped dates are possibility if you would like a richer style, however be at liberty to additionally experiment with different dried fruit
• protein powder – add a bit of little bit of your favourite protein powder for an added increase; chocolate protein powder is nice, however so is whey protein isolate; simply do not add greater than about 1/2 scoop or your bites will probably be too dry to carry collectively
• raisins – benefit from the traditional style of oatmeal raisin whenever you add chopped raisins to your combine

FAQs

Methods to make peanut butter protein balls (gluten free and no bake)

Thanks for stopping by!

Hello, I’m Nicole. I create gluten free recipes that actually work and style pretty much as good as you bear in mind. No extra making separate meals when somebody is GF, or shopping for packaged meals that aren’t ok to justify the worth. At Gluten Free on a Shoestring, “good, for gluten free” simply isn’t ok!

---